Little farmers: Children get their own tractor pull at Rochester Fair

Friday

Sep 21, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Samantha Allensallen@fosters.com

ROCHESTER — Farmers want their kids to know, agriculture isn't just for grown-ups.

At the Rochester Fair, beyond a flurry of carnival staples, past the cotton candy machines, the rides and the stuffed animal booths, a world showcasing local agriculture was housed in a series of barns. And on Thursday, the kids took over the barn area in a miniature tractor pulling competition just outside livestock pens.

General Agricultural Manager Rob Lobdell said the children's version of "the pull" started many years ago, as a way to rope children into the happenings of the fair.

"We wanted to do something for the kids because, you know, we wanted to pull kids in to agriculture," he said. "With all these big tractors around, we thought we'd put something on ourselves, and the kids really like it."

Amelia Evans-Brown, 20, of Barrington, volunteered as the superintendent of the swine barn for the first time year but said she wanted to be a part of the kids' tractor pull, as well.

"We have pedal tractors with a scale behind them and they pull it. Every kid gets a little pin at the end it's just a fun thing for the kids to do," she said, "because a lot of their dad's are doing the big tractor pulls."

The adult tractor pull was held later that evening but at 6 p.m., youngsters ages 8 and under climbed aboard a small tractor and pedaled as a scale behind them rose to the top of the wagon. Evans-Brown said the smaller kids would be assisted if they appeared to be struggling.

She added the fair offers many other activities for young attendees, including a "pig scramble." This past Sunday, 6- to 8-year-olds wrestled their select baby pigs to the ground and whichever one they could catch, they took home. The same competition will be held this weekend for 8- to 12-year-olds.

Sam Whitehouse, 13, helped a tot as she struggled to race across the finish line aboard the green John Deere tractor. Whitehouse and his brother Cameron, 15, both of Runway Farm in Strafford, remembered participating in the tractor pull when they were younger. Sam explained he has been helping out his family with the farm since then, too.

"I like the chance to get to know the animals. We have cows ┐ some aren't very nice and some are so nice," he said.

The brothers' mother, Tammy Whitehouse, said she was always proud of her boys for being a part of their farming culture.

"A lot of it is about helping others out and getting back to basics," she said, with a laugh. "They're giving to their community, rather than sitting in the house playing their video games.

Michaela Tibbetts, 5, took off on the tractor during the tractor pull with her father Mike looking on. He runs Tibbetts Family Farm out of Berwick, Maine. But before she took off, her 8-year-old brother, James, played a prank and attached her favorite tiger-shaped beanie baby to the tractor.

"I wanted to slow her down!" James laughed, while Michaela said her stuffed animal is a dear friend, named "Tigey." She pulled the box to the top of the tractor, all on her own, while others cheered.

Alicia Goff, Lebanon, Maine, allowed her 1-year-old, Reese, to ride the tractor too, though she ran alongside her and pushed.

"She saw her sister do it and she had to do it," Goff laughed. "Anything like that, she's all about it."

Lobdell said he hoped the small feat of pulling a tractor inspired the present generation to continue being active in local farming, even if it's in a small way.

"Agriculture is a dying breed," he said. "With the economy the way it is, it costs a lot. You used to see farms on every road. Now they're far and few between but┐everybody's doing a little bit of farming. And the kids in agriculture tend to be, I don't want to say smarter ┐but more world-wise, I guess."